Young Sadleir playmaker with bite

DANIEL Parker says he can't wait for the start of the rugby league season.

The young five-eighth had the best Christmas present he could imagine when he signed for three years after the Canterbury Bulldogs recruited him from Wests Tigers.

The 15-year-old from Sadleir has joined the Harold Matthews Cup under-16s representative squad.

The long-term plan is to bring him along steadily and the aim is for Daniel to play in the under-20s Holden Cup competition.

Daniel said he's thrilled to be at the Bulldogs. He plays for Moorebank Rams, who are in the Canterbury junior league.

Daniel said the Rams welcomed him with open arms when he joined last season.

"It's a great opportunity for me," Daniel said.

He previously played with Mounties, Liverpool Catholic Club and Canley Vale junior clubs and was snapped up by Wests Tigers to play in their development squad teams.

Daniel who started out as a fullback has switched to five-eighth in recent seasons and said No.6 is where he likes to play being near the action. Daniel has been training with the Bulldogs Harold Matthews Cup squad for the past six weeks.

"It's been intense training and you learn what you have to work hard," Daniel said.

He trains with the squad at Ruse Park, Bankstown.

The young pup said it's been an education training with the representative squad.

"You get a lot of advice on health, fitness and nutrition, what to eat and what not to eat," Daniel said.

Daniel resumes training after the Christmas break and it won't be long before there are trial games.

And he has closely studied the skills and style of NRL Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds.

"I watch Josh Reynolds closely; how he always follows the ball in attack and chases the kicks in general play and the way he defends," Daniel said.

His highlights in 2013 included playing in the annual Aboriginal knockout for Western Sydney Indigenous Sports Academy at Raymond Terrace, where he was voted the player of the tournament.

Daniel has been selected for the NSW under-16s Indigenous side to play against Queensland in February.